Convertible earring



March 3, 1953 J. F. M DONALD 2,629,989

CONVERTIBLE EARRING Filed Jan. '7. 1952 five 76267":

Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONVERTIBLE EARRING' JameslF; MoDonaliLongBeach, Calif.

Application January '7, 1952, Serial No. 265,247

Thepresentinvention relates in generalto the jewelryart; and more particularly to ear rings. Earrings in use'today are-oftwo general types; the clip on-type and the pierced-eartype; clip-on type earring includes as fastening means, two horizontally spaced surfaces between Which the-ear 1obeor a wearer is"friotiona1ly received.

hence' to the retail price thereof. Moreover, it

often occurs that awoman finds exactly the design of ear ring that she desires but this design is" made only with-the type of fastening means that she. does not use.

It is a major objectof the present invention to -provide an ear ring which is selectively usable without material alteration as either a clipon or pierced eartyne ear ring.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a" novel ear ring incorporating a base mem ber' andia' pendant" secured'thereto, which" ear ring; is selectively 'usable" in oneposition as a clip-on type ear ring andin an inverted position as a pierced-earstype ear ring; :the apendant always depending from the lowermost portion of the base member.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an ear ring incorporating a base member and a pendant secured thereto which pendant may be readily removed from its base member. This arrangement permits a plurality of pendants of varying design to be utilized with a single base member. Thus, several different pendants may be employed with but a single base member, thereby effecting a considerable saving in cost to the wearer as well as providing a unique concept which to the best of my knowledge is new to the jewelry art.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the appended detailed drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an ear ring embodying the present invention showing it in position for use as a pierced-ear type ear ring;

The

This adds to cost of'manufacturing conventional ear rings and Figure -2 is a side elevationaliview: OI' 'tIlGfQaIfLF ring ofFi'gure 1;

Figure 3 is a front-"elevational view similarrvtow Figure 1 b'ut showing thev ear ring intposition; for useas aclip-on type ear ring; and- Figure 4 is a 3 side elevational view 1017 ithezvear: ring of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings; the preferred rtype;

of ear ring embodying the present invention com-J prises a base member l Uand" apendant. member; The base wmember I 0 .1: ine

l2 attached thereto. eludes fastening means: l4 adapted to release ably secure the base member to a wearersaear. lobe.

It is contemplated thatat such: time asxthe' ear ring is-worn as a pierced ear type 'thebase' memberlt'w-ill assume the position shown in Figures 1 andZ. When theear ringcisrworn as aclip-on type, however, the base member isrroe tated to the: position of Figures 3? and 4 It is an important feature 'of the present invention that the pendant member l2'w-ill depend cl from the lower portion of the base member I07;

regardless of the position of"the base member.

The manner whereby this feature is provided will'be fully set forth hereinafter.

The fastening-means or strip -14 shown in the appended drawings is of such a": configuration .1 that it maybe utilized both when the ear ring is used as a pierced-ear type andwhen= it is.

used as aclip-on-type. To this end it will be observed that the fastening means'is-formed of. strip material'bent so as to define a horizontal portion lfl'which extends outwardly away fromthe base member l0; an intermediate portion 20 which extends vertically away from thehori zontal portion [8 and toward the base member Ill, and an end portion 22 which terminates above the center of the base member. Moreover, the end portion 22 is bent outwardly away from the base member.

When the ear ring is to be utilized as a piercedear type, the end portion 22 may be inserted through a hole formed in the wearers ear lobe. The base member ID may then be forced downwardly whereby the intermediate portion 20 will be urged through the lobe hole. Finally, the horizontal portion l8 will be positioned within the lobe hole in such a manner as to support the base member in an attitude similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2.

When the ear ring is to be utilized as a clipon type, the base member is inverted substan tially 180 from its position of Figures 1 and 2 to the position of Figures 3 and 4. In this position the wearers ear lobe may be frictionally received between the end portion 22 of the fastening means l4 and the rear surface of the base element It). The strip material from which the fastenin means 24 is formed will preferably be sufiiciently manipulatable that the horizontal distance between the end portion 22 and the rear of the base element may be adjusted so as to comfortably, yet securely, receive the wearers ear lobe.

Preferably, the base member I will be formed of a single length of strip material bent so as to assume a generally volute configuration. Moreover, the fastening strip It will be bent from the outermost end of this strip material, "as shown clearly in the drawings. 7

It will be observed that the pendant member I2 depends from the lower portion of the base member In both when the ear ring is used as a pierced-ear type and when it is used as a clip-on type. To this end the base member is formed with guide means, designated 30, which means extends along the height of the base member. The upper end of the pendant member 12, in turn, is formed with a connection element, or loop 32, having a sliding engagement with the guide means 30 whereby the pendant member may be moved from the top to the bottom of the base member at will. Conveniently, the guide means 30 may comprise the outermost portion of the strip material from which the base ,member is formed.

Preferably, the fastening strip I4 will constitute an integral continuation of the guide means 30, as indicated in the drawings.

This arrangement permits ready removal. of the pendant member from the base member by merely sliding it over and off the end portion 22 of the fastening strip. Accordingly, any number of pendant members of varying design may be interchangeably utilized with but a single base member.

The pendant member may conveniently be formed of strip material similar to that used in forming the base member. In this manner a pleasing aesthetic eflfect may be created. Moreover, the fabrication of these ear rings from such strip material permits them to be manufactured quickly and economically.

It should be especially noted that the article of jewelry shown in the drawings may also be utilized as pin or lavalier, rather than as an ear ring. When used for this purpose, the base member and pendant will be positioned in the attitude shown in Figures 1 and 2.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made with respect to the aforedescribed preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A convertible article of jewelry selectively usable as a clip-on type ear ring or a pierced-ear type ear ring, comprising: a base member formed of a single length of strip material bent so as to assume a generally volute configuration, the outermost end of said strip material terminating in a fastening strip for securing said base member to an ear lobe, said fastening strip having a horizontal portion which extends substantially normally away from said base member, an intermediate portion which extends vertically and toward said base member, and an end portion which terminates adjacent the end of said base member remote from said horizontal portion whereby an ear lobe maybe positioned between said end portion and said base member when said article is utilized as a clip-on type ear ring, said end portion also being bent away from said base member whereby it may be inserted through a hole formed in an ear lobe when said article is utilized as a pierced-ear type ear ring; and a pendant member for use with said base member, said pendant member having a loop element slidably engaging the outermost portion of said strip material whereby said pendant'member may be moved to one end of said base member when said article is utilized as a clip-on type ear ring, and to the opposite end of said base member when said article is utilized as a pierced-ear type ear ring, said pendant member being removable from said base member by sliding it over and oil of the fastening strip portion thereof.

JAMES F. MCDONALD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,684,783 Spear Sept. 18, 1928 1,713,285 Juergens May 14, 1929 2,009,537 Williams July 30, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 907,214 France June 18, 1945 

